Words: Staff
Photos: MADMEDIA
The Mint 400 is the oldest off-road race
in the United States and is also referred
to as “The Great American Off-Road
Race.” The grueling 400-mile desert race takes
place every March in the foothills of Las Vegas,
NV, attracting more than 550 race teams, and
fielded more than 80 different race classes.
Pre-race festivities included the desert cleanup,
and the traditional cruise down the Vegas
Strip toward the Mint 400 Off-Road Festival
on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas.
Thousands of spectators were also able to go to
the racer meet and greet, autograph signings,
talk to manufacturers about new products,
and more! Race week culminated on Friday
and Saturday, with a brutal desert race that
racers loop around four times in Primm Valley
near the Nevada-California border. Everything
from vintage and stock bug classes to popular
UTVs and everything in between participated
in the race. As in previous years, the main race
attraction is the Unlimited Truck Class, and this
year’s race crowned Kyle Jergenssen as champion.
The Mint 400 was created by Norm Johnson
in 1967, which was at first, a publicity event to
promote The Mint Hotel in Las Vegas. The race,
which The Martelli Brothers have owned since
2011, continues to bring together competitors
from across the nation to test their skills and
vehicles against rough terrain and some of the
biggest names in off-road racing. The Mint was
featured in Hunter S. Thompson’s novel “Fear
and Loathing in Las Vegas,” and later in the cult
classic film by the same name.
